Island



CHARLES F. PIKE, or PROVIDENCE, nacion` remito,`

Letters Patent No. r(1,910, dated December I0, 1867'. i

IMPRQVED APPARATUSPOR PRESERVING AirrsIsu, POULTRY, AND crues PBRISHABLE TO ALL TO WIIOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. PIKE, of the city and county of Providence, Stntefof Rhode Island, haveinventeda new and improved Mode of Refrigeration for the Cooling of the Holds of Vessels, Railroad-Cars, Rooms; and it is applicable to a vesscl, railroadcar, corpse-preserver, dead-house, domestic refrigerator, refrigerators for provision-stores, meat and fish-markets, packing-houses where they cutand pack beef and d pork, preserving fruits' of any and a-ll kinds, where you want a cool temperature; it is'also applicable to the preservation offresh ish. I do hereby declare that the following is` a full and exact description` thereof,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference marked thereon.

` The nature of my invention consists in having an ice-box or receptacle at the top of the structure, connected by tubes or pipes passing down from the bottom thereof into and through the rooms. These pipes or tubes are perforated at or near the bottom. The-ice box or receptacle has slots or holes in it on the side or ends, orboth, near the top, to allow the air that is, in this tubular arrangement, connected iviththe ice-box, to4 low out of the holes or slots in the bottom. As it becomes warm it will rise to the top and flow back into the ice-box or receptacle, -on to the' iee in the box, pipes, or tubes. It becomes cool, flows on downthrough the icbox,.tubes, or pipes, and so'keeps up an internal rotating motion so long as there is ice in theicc-box or rcccptacle, pipes, or tubes.

For domestic or household purposes, the ice is put into the ice-box or receptacle in large cakes. As it melts, the'water and air will pass down into the tubes or pipes, the water to waste awaythrvongb its proper channel, and, the cold air into the room in which it is to do its work. The ibe may be broken, and the tubes or pipes maybe filled with broken ice, also the ice-box or receptacle. If you desire for anyipurpose to get a great degree of cold in the chamber, tubes, you can 'get any' of it to most any degree ot' cold that you desire. The surface of the pipes or tubes Wants to be as follows: For every cubic foot of space in the chamber, you want two feet of surfaceouthe pipes or tubes. If you do not wish to freeze, one foot of surface to a cubic footf-of space will do. i

In the patents granted to me June 12, December 18, A. D. 1866, and January 1, A. D. 1867, the cooling is all by conduction. In this arrangement you get all the benefit of the-surface, with a small amount fof ice.A By connecting the perforated tubes or pipes with the perforated ice-box or receptacle, you let the wholeo f the contained air in the ice-box or tubes (and so more than double the power of the same machine) out into the room, and so you get the cold by conduction or absorption. It flows out, and is not forced through the pipes or tubes as in my former patents, as will readily be seen by comparing them. i

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construc tion and operation. i

I construct an ice-box or receptacle, desired form and size. e In the bottom of this icc-box are holes or openings for tubes or pipes, represented in the accompanying drawings by the letters C. On the bottom of this ice-box or receptacle A' there are collars, that are from one to three inches long, that slip into the pipes or tubes C, so as to prevent any water passing down otherwise than upon the inside of the tube or piperC D. i These pipes or tubes C D stand in a pan which is inthe room, at the bottom, on one or both' ends, or in the centre. This-pan has a hole in its bottom, with a pipe attached toconvey off the'drip from the ice, andthe condensa-tion from the tubes or pipes. There is a trap attached to this pipe to prevent the egress of the outside air passing into the room F, but so constructedas to let the water out. I have drawn several illustrations of the same thing, only changed thc form, without altering the substance. I will proceed to describe the several Egures or plates. 4

.Figure l is an end elevation of my improved ice-box.

' Ais the ice-box or receptacle,ha\'ing a flange on the top to support the ice-box on the euse. This flange is Ywide enough to allow a space all around the ice-box or receptacle, from one to three'inches, according to the dimensions of the ice-box or receptacle. Near the top are holes or slots, represented bythe letter W, tolet the warm air as it rises in the chamber lowinto the ice-box, through these-holes or slots represented by the letter W, to become cool. Ir is a Harige, that is fastened to the ice-box on its sides or ends, and stands off on an angle,

mingle salt with the ice; and if you have surface enough to your pipes or represented in the accompanying drawings by the letter A, ofany' so as to let the air pass into the icc-box over the top of the flange, and prevent the ice from coming out into the chamber F. In the bottom of this ice-box are openings, of any desired form or number, according-to the size of the box and room to be cooled. VOn the bottom ofthis ice-box are collars from one to three inches long, that slip inside of the pipes or tubes C, so, as the ice melts in the box A, they water will run down inside, with the air, into thepipes or tubes C D. l

C C C C C C are tubes, that the collars on the ice-box slip into, and connect the horizontal pipes or tubes B B B one to the other. The lower horizontal pipe or tube B is di'erent from'the onethat vconnects the icie box A and' the one just-belowit, or the middle one, "in this wise: The lower onejs perforated on its bottom and sides to let the air and water out-the air'to flow into the chamber F, and as it grows warm to rise and pass into the openings W in' the ice-box A; the water to flow into the pan E to run off at the pipe P. This pan E fits the inside of the chamber F on one end and thev two sides, so-that no waterpasses in between that pan E' and the sides of the lining to the room or' chamber F. This pan E extends out into 4the chamberv F far enough 4to catch any moisture that may drop from theice-box'A. This pan E is from one to three inchesdeep.

O O are supporters that` rest on the inside ofthe pan E, and support thetubes or pipes B. These support ers O O, and the flange around on the top of the ice-box A, are all the support that an ice-box constructed in this form and manner hasfIn thiswise it gives a free circulation of the air around the'ice-box A, pipes or tubes B C.

P is a pipe-or t/ube Athat is connected to the pan E, to carry oli' the water from the melting of the ice, :ind condensation of the moisture in the air in chamber F on the ice-box A, pipes or tubes B C. This pipe P llas a' trap aixed to it, to prevent the outsidenir from passing into the chamber F;.at the sametime it does not obstruct the flow of water out. I

Figure 2 is a. side View of g. 1. All-the letters and description of letters in fig. 1 apply to thesame letters .and description in this tig. 2. p Figuresz and 4 are a. side and end view ofthe same thing as described in iig. 1, with this exception, these figures have an upright pipe or tube, D, connected to a horizontal pipe or tube, L, and with the ice-box or receptacle A. The pipe L has atube running np'from its bottomto near the top of it, on the inside, marked t. It is open, at both ends, and as the ice in the ice-box A melts, the water drops into the pipe L, and when the pipe L is full to the top of pipe t, it flows down the pipe t into the pan E, and passes off at the pipe P. The coldest of the water in the-p'ipe-L will settle to the bottom, and raise the warmest water, and it will flow down the pipe t. As the ice melts in the ice-box A, the'air that comes from it will tlow down on to the water in the pipe L, and asit cannot pass through the water in the pipe L, and as it cannot pass through the pipe L, it will rise and ilow out of the openings inthe upright pipe D, represented by the letter v, though some of it may flow downthe water-eseapepipe t; when there is not water enough in the pipe L to ll that pipe. If it does, it will do no harm, as "it will ow'into the room F. .By this arrangement you have a pipe or tube of cold ice-water at the bottom of the room F.

Figure 4, near the bottom, is a stop-cock made fast to the pipe L, so that all the water can be drawn ol from the pipe L into the-pan Fi, and run off at the pipe P. Then this pipe L can be lled with ice, or ice and salt, or any other freezing-mixture. The-supports of this ice-box and tubes are the same as described in iig. 1.

Figures 5 and 6 are a side and end view of another form of the same ice-box, composed of all horizontal pipes or tubes connected with. the icebox A, and with a hollow pan, H, with collars on this pan H for the sockets, f Con the pipes B to slip into.v This hollow pan H is two or more inches deep, with holes upon all sides to let;

the -air out inte the chamber F. -The water coming from the ice-box A will drop into the pan E, and run off at the` pipe P. This hollow pan His some smaller than the'pan E, and the edge oi' it sits upon the bottom of Ithe pani. fwith small-shaped /\-openi:ngs in it to let the water that condenses on the pipes or tubes B and C, and runsV into the pan E, pass through these openingsto the outlet-pipe P. These openings are represented by the letter a. Figures 7 and 8 arefanother form of the sameice-box, with the pipes or tubes D extending down from thel ice-box A to the pan E. The lower end of this pipe D sets on and into this pan E, with holes in its sides, near the bottom, represented by the letter v, to let the air out into the chamber F, and the water from the icebox A into the pan E, to flow out at the pipe PL, v

Figures 9 and 10 are still' another form of the pipes or tubes D, connected with a hollow or inverted pan, with openings in its sides and ends. This inverted or hollow pan is the same as described in gs. 5 and 6.

This ieeeb'ox or receptacle, A, pipes I'or tubes B D, pans Hand E, are made ofv cast iron, three-sixteenths thick, or of any other metallic substance, like galvanized iron or tinnedv copper. When made of these metallic substances, the thinner they are, consistent with requisite strength, the better they will be, The ice-box tubes, or pipes, when made of cast iron, will not rust, if they are first put into .a tank with oil, (linseed is best,) and heated up to a boiling-point. It opens the pores of the-iron, and the oil enters it, and remains in it, and prevents any rust. The ice-pick does not cut it, as it does the copper, or other thin, sof`t metal. The size and form of the structure, the number of tubes or pipes, in-proportion vto thedimension of the chamber or room to be cooled. The proportion of all the parts may be varied according to its space, :degree of cold, or as other circumstances require.

When my invention is applied to a'domestie refrigerator, I do not 'break up 'the iee to fill the tubes or i pipes. I put it in the ice-box in large pieces; and as it melts, the cold air and water pass down through the y tubes or pipes and cool them; andthe moisture that is contained in the air in the preservingehamber is con densed'upon these pipes or tubes, as the cold air and water pass down trough them, the air to flow into the chamber; and, as it becomes warmed by the provisions in the chan ber, it risesand is Vattracted by the opening s in th'el ice-box, where the ice is to pass through them, intV the ice-box, and condcnses its moisture, taken npby its transit through thc chamber wherein the provisions' is, and to again becomev cooled and wpass down through the pipespr tubes, out into the provision-chamber. The Water ows out into the pan E, to run oli', or is held in bulk, asshown in figs. 3 and 4, to cool the chamber.

When my improved refrigerator is designed for the purpose of getting a very low degree of temperature, for the purposes et" freezing, till the pipes or tubes, or whatever form is used, with crushed ice, mingled with salt; also the ice-box, that answering or acting'as a reservoir, to supply thc pipes or tubes. The proportionof the salt and ice is according to the degree of cold that is required. It maybe proper to state here Jthat,

' although you mix them half and half, unless you have about two. feet of surface to one cubic foot of space, you cannot freeze quick. I have found the proportion of onesixth salt to `five`si:d.h s ice to work as 'well as `0r better than any other proportion. i v A With my improved arrangement, `as here described, making an internal circulationin the chamber, the frost docs not makeuponthe pipes or tubes, as it does upon the pipes or tubes in my former patents, dated June 12 and December 18, A. D. 1866, and January 1, A. D. 1867. This frost is a great preventive 'to the working of the machine, to its giving oli` its cold, to what a clean pipe is, with no frost upon it. i i

The walls or structure to contain this improved ice-box may be made in any of the usual forms for domestic markets, or other refrigerators, fitted with hooks, shelves, and other xtures, with ventilators, as described in my former patents. For a more particular description I hereby refer to them, and the specifications annexed to them. There may be a case made, with a partition in it, extending nearly to' Vthe bottom and most .to the top of it, on the inside. On one side ofthe partition of this icebox,pi'pes, or-tubes, may be placed, and, as the cold air comes out of the tubes, and is conducted oi from them, it will settle to the bottom, and flow out through this opening in the bottom of the partition into the preserving-room. As it takes up moisture in its transit through this preserving-room, it will rise to the top, and, passing through the opening in the top of the partition, it will enter tl1e,ice-box, and deposit its moisture in the ice, tubes, or pipes, become cooleddiow out vagain into the preserving-chamber through this bottom opening in the partition, and will continue this transit so long as the ice remains in the tubes or ice-box. Having thus fully described my invention, I do not claim to be the rst to apply a tubular or'cylindrical icc-box to a refrigerator; for, in the patent granted to Thomas H. King, June 20, 1845, he .describes `placing a cylinder in a refrigerator, and filling it 'with ice; and there are several En'glislrpatents that describe the use of pipes or tubes to coola chamber. In my examination of the construction of those plans, `I find no description of any idea to let the cold air out of the bottom of the tubes, and then take it in again at theftop, and so keep up an artificial rotation of the air; but, in all the plans heretofore, it was .to cool the chamber by conduction. With my idea the plan is to get the combined power and surface of conduction, absorption, and How of cold air from the ice direct into the. chamber or room wherein it is to be used, thereby 'getting a greater degree of' cold with less ice; ast-hc colder the temperature in the room is, so the less will the ice meltgthe stronger the internal circulation, the less `frost will there' be upon the pipes or tubes. i

Having thus fully Vdescribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'V 1. Constructing a tubular ice-box, with holes br openings in thetubes or pipes, at or nea-r the bottom, to let the air out into the chamber F, and slots or openings into the icc-receptacle, reservoir, or depository, near the top, and so get the combined and double purpose of radiation, conduction, and internal circulation ofithe air in the chamber F, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and described in the drawing and spcci cation hereunto annexed, rvithout coniining myself to any particular form, size, or shape of the pipes `{Ji-"tubes, whether they be vertical or horizontal, round, square, oval, oblong, or in any other form; neither d'of'Icchine .myself to any particular form of ice-receptacle, reservoir, or depository,

2. I claim the perforating or making slots, holes, or openings in the tbesor pipes, near the bottom, for the purposes setyforth and described, howsoever the same maybe made, whether-:used in connection. with the ice-receptacle, reservoir, or depository as described, or vvithout the openings in the ice-receptacle, reservoir, or depository, for the purpose of the rotating of the air. i

3. I claim the ice-receptacle, reservoir, or depository, with its openings to let `the air into and on to the ice in this ice-receptacle,` reservoir, or depository, for the purpose of taking oi the moisture in the preservingroom, at or near its top, whether thc tubes connected torthe bottom oi this ice-receptacle, reservoir, or depository are perforated' or not, or whether theme-receptacle, reservoir, ,or depository is removed altogether, und the tops or collars of the tubes or pipes are perforated. i i

4. I claim the ice-box, receptacle, reservoir, or depository A, as described,V pipes or tubes B C D L, pan E H, room F, substantially as described and set forth, with their appendages.

' CHARLES F. P1Kn.

Witnesses:

HENRY MAn'rrN, CHARLES SELDEN. 

